Your jaw is connected to your skull by the temporomandibular joint. When this joint is harmed or injured, it can lead to TMJ dysfunction. This issue can cause your jaw and the muscles around it to become painful and stiff. Since the joint involves bones, tendons, and muscles, you might experience pain on one or both sides of your jaw, making activities like opening your mouth, speaking, yawning, and chewing quite challenging.
Struggling to chew, yawn, or hearing a click in your jaw? These could be signs of TMJ issues. Book a visit with Stride Physical Therapy for effective treatments to ease your jaw discomfort.
How can I tell if I have TMJ Dysfunction?
Diagnosing TMJ dysfunction doesn't have a one-size-fits-all solution. If you suspect you have TMJ issues, your doctor will look over your medical history and examine you. They might also refer you to a specialist like an ENT (ear, nose, and throat doctor) or a dentist who focuses on jaw problems.
Before diagnosing TMJ dysfunction, it's important to exclude conditions with similar symptoms, such as trigeminal neuralgia, salivary gland problems, or swollen lymph nodes. After confirming your diagnosis, your treatment will be tailored to your specific symptoms.
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If you have TMJ dysfunction, you might experience jaw pain, a popping sensation when you move your jaw, headaches, tender jaw muscles, your jaw getting stuck, temple pain, and ear pain. Common causes are teeth misalignment, constant chewing gum, arthritis, grinding teeth, or a jaw injury.
How will physical therapy help with my TMJ Dysfunction?
Home treatments like painkillers (Ibuprofen, Aspirin) and ice packs might ease TMJ pain. Sedative oils like clary sage or lavender could offer short-term comfort. If these don't help long-term, stronger options like muscle relaxers, anti-inflammatories, dental splints to stop grinding, acupuncture or even surgery may be needed.
For a natural method to treat TMJ dysfunction, consider physical therapy as a highly effective option. When you visit Stride Physical Therapy, we'll thoroughly examine your neck, shoulders, and upper back to see if they're linked to your discomfort. Our experienced Freehold, NJ physical therapists will then tailor a treatment plan to address your unique symptoms and requirements.
Our physical therapist will assess your jaw movement and ease tension in your neck and head muscles. Physical therapy aims to improve jaw function and muscle-joint coordination. Your personalized treatment may include jaw exercises, massage, joint movement techniques, myofascial release, electric therapy, or ultrasound.
Contact Stride Physical Therapy for relief:
Our caring physical therapists focus on you and your wellness, striving to alleviate your symptoms. If you're in Freehold, NJ and struggling with TMJ dysfunction, book an appointment at Stride Physical Therapy Freehold, NJ. Say goodbye to jaw pain and stiffness.
MEET YOUR RECOVERY TEAM
Kanwal Bhardwaj
PT, M.Sc.PT, CIMT, CMNT
Meet Kanwal Bhardwaj, PT, M.Sc.PT, CIMT, CMNT, the driving force behind Stride Physical Therapy in Freehold, NJ. With over 20 years of dedicated experience in the field, Kanwal brings a wealth of expertise and a passion for holistic healing to his practice. Kanwal's journey began with a Master of Science in Orthopedic Physical Therapy from Quinnipiac University in 2004. Over the years, he honed his skills and gained invaluable insights during 18 years of service in outpatient physical therapy offices. In 2014, fueled by a desire to deepen his understanding of patient care, he pursued a manual therapy certification (CIMT). This transformative experience allowed him to adopt a whole-body perspective, focusing on treating the root cause rather than just the symptoms...
At Stride Physical Therapy, we're dedicated to transforming lives. With a focus on the root cause of your condition, we're here to help you regain mobility and embrace an active lifestyle. What sets us apart? Our genuine passion for what we do. Let's stride towards a brighter tomorrow together.
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Take one step closer to a pain-free life with Stride Physical Therapy! Discover medication and surgery-free solutions with our sessions.
Health Blog
Preparing for Surgery? Try Pre-hab to Speed up Your Recovery Process.
Getting ready for surgery? Understand that rehabilitation after surgery is key for a speedy recovery. It returns your movement and helps you stand on your feet again. Interestingly, rehabilitation before surgery, known as pre-hab, can also make your post-surgery recovery faster and even enhance the outcome of your surgery. Pre-hab means working with a physical therapist to prepare your body for surgery. Post-surgery, rehab takes over the healing process.
For a swift return to your daily life after surgery, consider Stript Physical Therapy in Freehold, NJ. Our dedicated team designs a personalized treatment plan to expedite your recovery and prepare you for your upcoming surgery.
Understanding Pre-hab vs. Rehab
Pre-hab: Participating in a pre-hab program with a physical therapist helps you get a head start on recovery and ensures a more successful surgery. Your therapist will prescribe exercises and therapeutic modalities to reduce inflammation and increase strength, giving your body an advantage as it heals from surgery. Even a few sessions can improve your overall health, so you have more strength to draw on post-surgery. Pre-hab prevents extreme weakness after surgery by building up your strength in advance.
Rehab: While pre-hab prepares your body for surgery, rehab focuses on strengthening your body afterward. Post-surgery pain and discomfort are natural, and certain motions may be challenging. However, it’s crucial to maintain movement to regain your range of motion and ensure a full recovery. Rehab helps you move safely, prevent reinjury, fight inflammation, and keep painful adhesions from forming. It also builds strength to help you quickly return to your routine.
What Results Can You Expect from Pre-hab?
Pre-hab dramatically helps people about to have surgery. Research from the Arthritis Foundation found that patients doing pre-hab recovered better after surgery and could leave the hospital sooner. Knee replacement patients who did pre-hab could walk and climb stairs well enough to be discharged from the hospital faster than those who skipped pre-hab.
Get a Jump Start on Your Recovery with Stride Physical Therapy
The health benefits of pre-hab are undeniable. If your surgery date is approaching, call Stride Physical Therapy in Freehold, NJ today to take advantage of our strengthening pre-hab services. Our team of dedicated movement experts will help you improve your strength before surgery, ensuring a smoother post-operative outcome and a faster recovery. Don’t face this journey alone—contact Stride Physical Therapy today to get the supportive, knowledgeable care you deserve.
